The content of this article provides
interesting history, facts and
information about Roman Clothes. The
clothes of the Romans was simple.
They usually wore 2-3 articles of
clothing, not including shoes. All
of the garments varied in the Roman
clothing materials which were used.

There was little change in fashion and style during
the
Roman
Republic and the
Roman Empire.
Early contact with the Greeks on the south and with the
Etruscans to the north gave the Romans a taste for beauty
that was expressed in the grace of their flowing robes.

Roman Clothes - Clothing
for Men and WomenClothing for men and women were very similar. Roman writers
assigned each article of clothing into two classes according
to how it was worn and the way that Romans dressed. One was indutus (put on)
which were generally
considered as under garments or Underwear. The second type
of clothing was called amictus (wrapped around) which were
the outer garments. The toga was at first worn by
women as well as men, but later Roman matrons wore a
different robe, called a stola, with a broad border or
fringe, reaching to the feet. Prostitutes and women
condemned for adultery, were not permitted to wear the stola
and therefore called togatae.

Roman Clothes - The TogaThe ordinary garments of
the Romans were the toga and the tunic. Roman citizens only
were permitted to wear the toga, and banished persons were
prohibited the use of it. The toga was a loose woollen robe,
of a semicircular form, without sleeves, open from the waist
upwards, but closed from there downwards, and surrounding
the limbs as far as the middle of the leg. The upper part of
the vest was drawn under the right arm, which was thus left
uncovered, and, passing over the left shoulder, was there
gathered in a knot, where it fell in folds across the
breast: this flap being tucked into the girdle, formed a
cavity which sometimes served as a pocket, and was
frequently used as a covering for the head. Its color was
normally white, except in case of mourning, when a black or dark color was worn. The Romans were at great pains to adjust the
toga and make it hang gracefully.

Roman Clothes - Types of
TogaThe toga picta was so
termed from the rich embroidery with which it was
covered:—the toga palmata from its being wrought in figured
palm leaves, this last was the triumphal garment. Young men,
until they were seventeen years of age wore a gown bordered with purple,
called the toga praetexta. After they had arrived at the age
of seventeen, young men assumed the toga virilis.

Roman Clothes - The TunicThe tunic was a white
woollen vest worn below the toga, coming down a little below
the knees before, and to the middle of the leg behind, at
first without sleeves. Tunics with sleeves were believed
effeminate: but under the emperors, these were used with
fringes at the hands. The tunic was fastened by a girdle or
belt about the waist, to keep it tight, which also served as
a purse. The women wore a tunic which came down to their
feet and covered their arms. Senators had a broad stripe of
purple, sewed on the breast of their tunic, called latus
clavus, which is sometimes put for the tunic itself, or the
dignity of a senator. The tunic worn by the equites were
distinguished by a narrow stripe called angustus clavus.

Roman Clothes - TrousersThe Romans initially wore
neither stockings nor breeches, but used sometimes to wrap
their legs and thighs with pieces of cloth called from the
parts which they covered, tibialia and feminalia. This later
changed in the period of the Roman Empire when soldiers wore
trousers or breeches.

Roman Clothes - Shoes and Sandals
The chief coverings for the feet were the calceus, which
covered the whole foot, somewhat like our shoes, and was
tied above with a latchet or lace, and the solea, a slipper
or sandal which covered only the sole of the foot, and was
fastened on with leather thongs or strings. The shoes of the
senators came up to the middle of their legs, and had a
golden or silver crescent on the top of the foot. The shoes
of the soldiery were called caligæ, sometimes shod with
nails. Comedians wore the socci or slippers, and tragedians
the cothurni.

Roman Clothes - Head Coverings and HatsThe ancient Romans went
with their heads bare except at sacred rites, games,
festivals, on journey or in war. At games and festivals a
woollen cap or bonnet was worn. A wide brimmed straw hat was
worn out doors, usually on the farms, as protection from the
sun. The head-dress of women was at first very simple. They
seldom went out, and when they did they almost always had
their faces veiled. But when riches and luxury increased,
dress became, with many, the chief object of attention. They
anointed their hair with the richest perfumes, and sometimes
gave it a bright yellow color, by means of a composition or
wash. It was likewise adorned with gold and pearls and
precious stones: sometimes with garlands and chaplets of
flowers.